Curtain stretcher



July 27, 1943. B. NELSON 2,325,268

CURTAIN STRETCI-{ER Filed Jan. 1, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1590mm [Va/5012 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I III 80 fallen/for Bernard Afelson July 27, 1943. B. NELSON CURTAIN STRETCHER Filed Jan. 1, 1942 Patented Juiy 27, 194 3 y '2=,s25,2e&-

eIi rA -s S C'HE a, 'Berfiard Nelson, Chica gc, 1-11. YY?

. v. A. .L.

will permit auniform stretching oithe curtain in all directions. a v

A still further abjectoftheinven-tion-is-to prcvide a novel and improved curtain stretcher which Will not-injure the curtain- WhiIe' StIetch- A- stillfu-rther object e13 the-invention is td tprovicie a nevel and improved construction for a curtainstretcher.-

A further object of the inver'itien is to pro videa curtain stretchingdevicecompri'sing an outer rigid frame and an inner fr an1e,-'said inner frame being expansibie in order tonermit 'the ready stretching ef eurta ins mdunteci-thereeri i A further abject of this invention is to provicle curtain stretching'devi'ce comprising an i cuter ri id frame and an inner frame, saiciinner frame beingexpansibie inorder to permit/the ready stretehing-gf curtains mounted thereonand being farmed of bicck'members mounted uepna contractile iiember' and adapted to -be eqeiciistantly spaced therealong whensaid i'rame is'expanded. I i

A further object of the'invention istoprov'ide a' curtain stretching device comprising inner and outer frames, the outer frame being rigid zine.

fixed in size, the inner frame being adjustable as 1A furtherobject of the invention lies in 'the prcvisicn of curtain stretching elementa'eachcf which is formed of a series of biocksheid to.-

getirier bye contractilemembenand; being connested in such a mannler'that When stretchei the blocks are equidistantly spaced.

Other objects and features e theinvention =lie izi'the provision of various constructionaii details whereby the stretcher is made to operate positively and eiiiciently, whereby the stretcher f is simple in construction, wherebytiie stretcher may. accommodate practically-anysize curtain,

and whereby the stretcher may-acccmn geiatea pimality of curtaizisgatrthesame time. v

if With the foregoing andother.QbJ Qt LY the invention consistscof certain? novelgfeatures of; construction; arrangement and combination of --riarts hereinafter fully!" deser'ibed; illustrated in tl'ieiaccempanyin-g examines, and particularly pointedout, inrthe.- appended-1 claims}; it being; 1m tiersteodthat 'varions changes in, the farm; pro: portion, size: and; minor; lietailsoof the struecure be made'withoutdeparting tro mthe-;spiiiit orv sacrificing any, ei jtl'ieg adyan-tag es ,of 'j'tire: in Vention'm: v s i 4 For-1 .61 pu-ri esef or :iaciiitatingan massage;

beg: inventicin; Ijlhayeillustrated: in: the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment v ther ofsiromaninspecti n ofxwh chewh rc steered; inxicsonn ctiorr. with theqioilo, inei z1escription, jmyrinyentiemw its {mode ef construe-e tion -assembiy -andgpperatiem, and many ef; its adyantageseshouidihereadilynunderstoqd and ap: predated; 3i 1-. ,Y Re e ring :ite: thedramn ssin whim-the same ar t s 10 szreieremcjza iemPlqyl flitfiif in i cate qcorrespemiing or: Similar; parts th reughaut figureszot the drawings? Y plant-view r rmy llrtain; retcher iiiiopei'ati epositmn:,-withva1iious po tionethereshownirrsec i n; Fi 2; is perspective view-. ofi; a; fragment, of thecurtain stretcher; showing details-in iseetiqn. Fig: 3 isiye section-at; View device taken along the -,i ine --3'+-. a of Fig; 1. Fi -isras t enalview ere roman e the dfiv fi 438K611 210 131 33" &4: 'Q S EQJ Reterring to thesieta -s f y nven n t reference characte H desisnate Q Q BSYS- mm f: vweed,v metal ic or Y theil ke a d c pr ses twq side- -membersiji and l 2,: and end members J3 and H: The irame kl iii-rigid; when in operative eendition and c-isqfixejd by; means pt brackets (not showmy reen forcing; the corners-,pr -the like.

Thecirawings; show the useef. pins 1 5 with m ortis' tenet- 'oints: Ili desireth the said frame I 0 may; bema iersoas m f lde 0 c 'wse wh n not in u sizes is occu ac n m am u f'..: We e i'- a i .1 v rqsi-tionedwi h n-t e fr me @13 Scheman 'Eig. 1, isia secenclary tra ne i6 upon whicbifti e curtain l'-,'l-is;ada1pted ta bearrange fiaidi trame itemri es d evmembses generate. de i na ee and; t9; a mem rs'l k d .12 h iof said -framemem elszis prevideciat thegoppgsite ends; t ereefzw m sub t nti llyrur h iaed Yoke b o w ickn' r e aehedi t iri dbyz e r mr 'Therendjmem ere ia d ishareare ati e mhort wh nce yams-32" which haveportions 23 overlying the extremities of said end members and 2| and fixed thereto by studs 24 and nuts 25. The studs are relatively long and protrude a substantial distance above and below the surfaces of the end frame members 20 and 2| for a purpose to be presently more fully described. 7

Each of the side members |8 and I9 is provided,

upon its extremities, with U-shaped yokes which are somewhat longer than: the members 22. Thegreason for the members;.26 .beingrela-H. I

tively long is to permit the end members 20 or 2| to pass between the arms thereof in the assembly of the device, as shown in the drawings.

Each of the members 26 is provided with a portion 21 corresponding to the portion 23 of each member 22, by means of which it is affixed to the extremities of the members l8 andIS by studs 24 and nuts 25.

Each of the U-shaped members 22 and '26 is provided with a bolt 28 rigidly secured to and-extending from-its rear;face. The free end of the l0 and the base of each of the U-shaped members 22 or 26 with-which said spring3l may be associatedr" Itwill be seen from the above-descriptionthat the bolt and spring arrangement serves to maintain the inner frame l6 suspended within the out er frame l0 and also-provides take-up devices endmost blocks of the frame member by having a groove 36 provided in the end face of said blocks within which is received a cotter pin 31, said cotter pin passing through the free end or ring end3'l' of the coiled spring 34 (see Fig. 2).

In this manner the blocks 33 are assembled and are held in such assembled position by means of the coiled spring 34.

To further secure the blocks to each other, each of said bloc-ks is provided on,thesidefacethereof with a tongue or projection 38, which tongues or projections are adapted to be received in ex v,tensible telescoping hollow sheet metal members 39 provided one on each side of the frame member and having a recess 40 throughout its entire length,,adapted for receiving said projections or tongues 38. The said sheet metal members'39 are secured adjacent their free ends to the endmost blockslby means of screws 4| or some other suitable fastening means. These sheet metal members mayv also be secured intermediatetheir ends to one of: the intermediate blocks of the frame member by means of a bolt '60 extending through elongated slots 6| provided in. said, sheet ,metal members :and having a nut 32'threaded on the free end thereof, said boltand nut Wand-62 preventing the sheet metal members 39 from becomwhereby when the wing nuts-29- are tightened,the

respective members I8, Hi, 20 or 2| are elongated against the force exerted by springs 3 I It is also obvious that the suspension is resilient in that the springs 3| absorb shocks. Further, I when the wing nuts areloosened, the expansive force of the springs 3| aids-in thecontracting of the respectivernembers l8, I9, 20 and 2 l as the case maybe.

As already stated, each of the bolts 28 extends through an appropriate slot 321 formed inthe respective members -|2, l3 and M, in order to permit theinner frame It to be adjusted in size to perform the stretching operation. "In adjusting same, the frame members 28 and 2|v are adapted to be moved longitudinally asviewed in Fig.1, while the frame members |8Jand l9 are adapted to be moved; transversely as viewed in Fig 1-. Obviously the slots 32' should be' 'of such length'to permit areas'onable amount of such adjustment. The manner in'which the size of the rectangle defined by the frame members l8, |9,'20 and 2| may bevaried is thus seen. 1

The frame members l8, 9, 20'and 2|, which go to make up' the curtain receiving frame 16, are substantiallyidentical in construction and the 'description'of one of these frame members, therefore, will apply to all of them. The members'are constructed so that when in' assembled position, it will be rigid against lateral bending but-will readily lend itself for"extension 'longitudinally. The frame member, inassernbled conditio'meconsists of a plurality orseries pf blocksb'f wood, or the like, 33,- each-of said blocks being provided with'a central opening 35 'extending com;-

pl'etely therethrough f'andfthrough which =15 threaded a coiledspring 34 'The free ends'of said coiled springare'secured in the free ends Ol'thfi ing detached or disassembled from its associated block members 33; The bolt 60 and nut 62, however, are adjusted so that they will permit movement of the telescoping portions of the; sheet metal member 39 to permit extension of the said frame members.-

Asshown in Fig.2, the top and bottom surfaces of each of the blocks 33 are provided with centrallypositioned openings 53 for the accommodar tion of curtain-holding pins which will be presently described. The construction of the members |8, I9, 20 and 2| whichgo to make up the inner frame ifi are thusshown to be rigid in lateral construction and yet readily extensible in order that the size; of the frame defined therebetween maybevaried as desired.

.Adapted for cooperationwith the members l8,

I9, 20; and 2|, are a pluralityof members 42, 43,

44 and 45, adapted to overlie the members ofthe frame; |6 These overlying members 42, 43, 44

of the coiled spring. Each of the blocks 48 is provided on its side surface with a groove 50, said grooves, Whenthe blocks are in aligned position, will provide an elongated groove extending through the entire length of the assembled member. Within these grooves is disposed an extensible, sheet metal telescoping member 5|, the ends of each of said members 5| being secured to the end blocks by means of pins or other suitable fastening means, as shown at 48. Thus, in

assembled position, the said members 42, 63, 44

and 45 are laterally substantially rigid, but are readily extensible in a longitudinal direction. Each of saidoverlying members is adapted to overlie andcooperate with one of the frame members I8, I9,- 20' or 2|,-ina manner to be now described.

In the operation of the device,zthe curtain to be stretched, is .placedupon the frame It in snunstretehed" cend ition The fiverl mem bers 42, 3,- 44- and 4 5 are then fi l'a'ee -p0sitiorr u on their respective cooperatingmembers W, I 93' 2G andi l. Eacii'of'thesebveri yirig me'rn her-s isprovided with a pm 52 which passes coin pletelythrough eaie'h of the bleeks' id's-fining" said members. Said pi-n352 is adapted te-p'assthreugii the cei-l'e'd springfl nd extends} shert' dis fiance beyond the-opposite face er theie'l'ia'ck; as v er -the studs is which semis tiisyokes 22 we 25 previde't may be utilized ferseetiring tihememher's fi we;

and 4'5- to thei peratiii g members 9 teams f6. Suitable ut's-fid'a-nd opehihgs5t ay be utilized for securely fas-ten-ihg said ms z nhersih pliagg r U 1 .I

- 'In this assembled-i position-,- the wing? nuts 23 maybe tightened upon the 'respetivebo-lts- 28 tothereby cause an extension-hi the-trams: i 6

a1-1' of its fez-11v directions with theresfihi'that the-curtain rRd'iSpGSed'lIpm-i S3lid trameg will be j stretched wine desired size; whie'h positien it mas belef-t fie drm- First the nuts- 29; on the belts 20 associated Withmeend ii-ie'rr i bers' at; 2:1 are tightened with the nuts en the bolts eon-'- neeted with-thesidemembers L8; 1 9 heii-rig lo'o setied so that the latter 'bel'fis ma e'asil yb'e displacedintheslo'ts 32; Thereby the-Curtain I 'i- .b'ecemes" stretched in the transverse direction correspodd= ing tame-lengthening of theend}rhei'nbers Mk2 I and earri'es withiiithe side frame iner ifleers' l 8',- l 9 which, as just; stated; are loese iwith -rgas'peizit to the outer frame lwafl that ti-Itie; By tig htening new menu-ts 29 er-tthe'bolts ESSOGi'QZti-ldliWit e v J purpose of" th-" 'meinber*10 is to rehder'the use with eurteiins bi varying sizes.

64" eodperate witkieaeii otH-e in: win Msd' he notes inst-me srrss emew ef the pins s-z 'f'or' engagement within is v e openings wem-th reugh the coils the shrine} 4 1 will cause-saidtiesiisls and 283- *hsseseraes equirswi-ltb'e-seeri that the ms to i s d ispofs'ed on frame- I figsu' ehds for example over members 42, 43, 44 and 45 in a f'e ati ens 'The-- 611' iiiikis' ebvi-eu iy still uh- Tfie-need fer fastenin the Z in the eenvent'ie us" eliminated. This pr'aitidfi n serves tosimultaneouslyengsgesir-psmis the edges of the-curtain prior-12b thestret'eh thereofby the mere applieation ot the overlying members AZ'Q-fii- 4E 45. This arrangement the'de'si red distance" from each other and lengthenedgstretchinig thereby the ourtain in lengthwisedireeti'en; I 1 Y Itm'ay benoted atthis time thait a -plurwiity of members; si'rhi-lawto the overlyingmembers-- "all andwmay'be utilized for-'ewpe'ratien with the underside of the frame l 6 ,--inwhiehicase a secondeurt'aiin ma-y be attael i'ed to the underside of the frame l 5 in E ma/ruler similar td matheminabove described with the result-that? both of the curtains disposed on said -=frame 6 'wi-1-1 be stretched simul'taneouslyi Thus it is possible td utilize-the same device for stretching a.- plurality of curtains at the same tim'edn a s'in g-le operaitism It will also be noted. that tI-ie-ira-me Pa -may be provided intermediatethe ends thereof with atr-ansversely disposed member Tww-hich is" constructed the-same mariner as the-en'd member 20 and which is provided edificehtitsendswith the yokesor'straps M -by. means 0fwhiei 1 =it is securedto the frame l a throughthe medium 01 the bolts 1-2; Winghuts 1 3 mm coiled spring Mr while at the same: time minimizes the danger of injury to the curtain during the stretehifig operation. i

- It is-believed thalt' inventi'en i-t's modem-t construction and assemsi y; and many (if itsad'- var'itag'es should be readily understood-- from the foregoing without further descri er-1',- and' -it shouldalso' -be manifest that while a/ preferred embodiment of the iIlVl'lfiOfihES-b'h ShGWfiand described tori illustrative purposes; the structural details are nevertheless caps, le-etzwide variation within the purview OI mydfiivi i fibiiv as defined in -the aippendediclaimszi .I

What-VI claim: and desi rete secure by Letters Patent-0f the Un ited stfites i 1i 1.: Inwcurtzirf-stretching devicea;rigid 'frame work;:an irin'er frameworkatdapted to iiate a; 0111 tain mounted thei eong meens foi suppor ting said inner fnamewerk a-iid fdr I expa,n olinghv same; said inner framework being formed: 01 side and end eiementswhieni ar'evslidable relative-tseaeh: other and are laterally rigid fbut longitudinally ext en sible whereby said 1 curtain Irihty v be mounted thereon in .unstretched" condition and then be stretchedluponrthe expansion oi seid' inn'er: fi aimework; said support-means cempni'sirig screw: tbreaded?mem bers nfomted up'efi the' 'ext'rem'iti'es of said elements atzid':=s1ida;bly1 cenneefied with said rigi'd framewerk arid having-means: thereei' iea pa'blei of sherten-ingtthe': effective length"- thereof when: it: is: desired: tmexpahd said: inner ii-dine device eepabie 6f" end elements laterally rigid but longitudinally I extensible said elements being slidably connectedto each other andtothe rigid framework whereby saidcurtain maybe mounted-thereon in unstretched condition and-then be stretched upon the expansion of said inner framework, each of said elements-comprisinga plurality of block members mounted upon-and; confined by tele; scoping means and being connected one tothe other by an extensiblemember passing through the entire-element. i 3 an 3. In a curtain stretchingdevice, a rigid framework, an inner framework adapted to havea curtain mounted thereon, means for supportingsaid inner framework and for expandingsame, said inner framework being f ormedof side, and end elements laterally rigid but longitudinallyex tensible said elements being slidably connected to each other andtothe rigidfrarnework where bysaid curtain may be mounted thereon in' un: stretched condition and then be stretched upon the expansion of said innerframework each of said elements comprising 9 plurality of block members mounted upon andconfined by .telescoping means and being connected one to the other byan extensible membenpassing through the entire element, each of said elementshaving means whereby the edge of a curtain mounted thereon a 4. In acurtainstretching device, a rigid frame work, an inner framework adapted'to have a curtain mounted thereon, means for supporting said inner framework andv for :expanding- -same,' said inner framework being formed of side and; end elements laterally rigidbut; longitudinally extensible said elements beingslidably connectedto each other and to the rigid framework whereby saidcurtain may be mounted thereon in un-,-

stretched-condition and then be stretchedupo-n the expansion of saidinner framework, each of said elements comprising a plurality of block members mounted upon and confined by;telescoping means and ,beingconnected one to the other by an extensible member passing through the entire element, each'of said elements having means whereby the edge of a,curtain may-,be mounted thereon, comprising a second element of substantially similar construction adapted .to overlie said first element and sandwich said'curtain edge between said elements.

5. In a curtain stretchingdevice, a rigid frame: work, an inner framework adapted tohave a curtain mounted thereon,-means for supporting said inner framework and for expanding same, said innerframework beingfonned of 'side and end elements laterally rigidbut longitudinally extensible said elements being slidably connected to each other and to the rigid framework whereby said curtain may be mounted thereon; in unstretched condition and then be'stretched upon the expansion of said inner framework, each of said elements comprisingua plurality of block members mountedupon and confined by. 17318-1 scoping means and being connected one to the other by an extensible memberpassingzthrough the entire element, each of said elements having means whereby the edge of a curtain may be m u d thereon p i ng .a second element of substantially similar construction adapted to overlie said first element and sandwich saidcurtain edge between said elements and meansfor holding said first named elements in assembled condition with said'second named elements.:,*

.6. In a curtain stretching devlcaalrigid frame,

a secondaryframe formed o f side and end elements slidably connected to each other and to the rigid framedisposed within said rigid frame and having ,means whereby a curtain in unstretched condition may be mounted thereon, support means slidably'connected with said rigid frame and maintaining said secondary frame in position and being 'contracti ble to expand said secondary frame aftersaid curtainhas been mounted tobthereby stretch said curtain, said curtain mounting means including a second'set of side and'end elements slidably connected to each other and to the secondary frame capable of beingextended longitudinally overlying the side and end elements of the secondary frame and sandwiching said curtain between said second set of elements and said secondary frame. a

, '7. In a curtainstretching device, arigid frame, a secondary-frame formed ofside and end elements slidably connected to each other and to the rigid frame disposed within said rigid frame and having means whereby a curtain in unstretched condition may :bemounted thereon, support means slidably connected with said rigid frame and maintaining said secondary frame in position and being contractible to expand said secondary frame after said curtain, has been mounted to thereby stretch said curtain, said curtain mounting means including a second set of side and end elements slidablyconnected to each other and to the secondary'frame capable of ,being extended longitudinally overlying the side and end elements of: thesecondary. frame andsandwichingsaid; curtain between-said elements and saidsecondaryirame, said second setof elements and secondary frame having cooperating means for position positively holding said curtain insaid sandwiched 8. An extensible element-- for use inconnection witha curtain stretching device, comprising a series of blocks, each having a curtain securing device thereon mounted upon and held in as sembly by a contractile member, and means permitting only substantially equidistant spacing of said blocks when said .elementvis extended.

9. An extensible element for use in connection with the expanding frame of a curtain stretching device comprising a series of block members mounted upon a contractile member; readily extensible telescopin ,v members confining opposite edges of each of said block members andadapted to extend the entire length of saidelemenhand means at opposite ends of said series of members iorsecuring saidcontractile member.

10. An extensible element for-use in connection with the expanding frame of a curtain stretching device comprising a series of block members mounted; upon a contractile member, readily extensible telescoping members confining opposite edges of each of i said block members andadaptedto extend the entire length of said element, and means at, opposite ends of said series of membersfor securing said contractile membeneach of, said block members being provided withacurtainholding pin passing through the center thereof and extendingfrom the'bottom thereof, said pins also serving ,to fix the position of said-block members upon said contractile member; relative to one another whereby when said element, is extended, the block members will besubstantiallyequidistant from one anOtheL-w L I I 1 :4

;11.;=In-,a curtain stretching device, a rigid outer framework,v an inner: framework comprising: a plurality; of v:' laterally inflexible extensible elements joined into a substantially rectangular configuration, means connected between the extremities of said elements and said rigid framework for supporting said inner framework, means for mounting curtains upon said inner framework while in an unstretched condition, said connecting means at each corner of the inner framework being slidable relative to each other and said plurality of laterally inflexible extensible eie'- ments joined into a substantially rectangular tremities'of said elements and said rigid frame-,

work for supporting said inner framework, means for mounting curtains upon said inner framework while in an unstretched condition, said connecting means at each'corner of the inner framework-being slidable relative to each other and said supporting means being provided with take up devices capable of shortening the effective I lengths thereof and thereby lengthening said elements and expanding said inner framework when said unstretched curtain has been mounted there-- i on, and means opposing the expansion of said innerframework comprising acoil spring within said extensible elements and adapted to be stretched upon the extension thereof.

BERNARD NELSON. 7

configuration, means connected between the ex- 

